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Town Hall · Montrose

Montrose spent more per resident in 2022 than 67% of similar cities

Montrose’s city government spent $34.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,663 per resident. Water and other utilities ($4.9 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

Planning Commission

5:00 pm · 107 S Cascade Ave

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$34.9M
year to December 31, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$1,663
In 2022: $1,489, more than 67% of 18 similar cities
Long-term debt
$23.2M
end of 2024, reported
City staff, 2022
169
full-time · 21 part-time · March payroll $1.1M
Typical tax bill
$1,450
0.37% of home value · CO 0.48%

What stands out about how Montrose is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $1,489 per resident, more than 67% of 18 similar cities.Runs its own water & sewer26% of day-to-day spending goes to water, sewer and trash (2024).A shared school districtShares Montrose County School District RE-1J with 1 other town.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Montrose’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 6:00 pm · City Council Chambers, 107 S. Cascade AvenueCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Nov2
    City CouncilMonday · 10:00 am · City Council Chambers, 107 S. Cascade AvenueCity Council Work SessionAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    Planning CommissionWednesday · 5:00 pm · City Council Chambers, 107 S. Cascade AvenuePlanning Commission MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct27
    Historic Preservation CommissionTuesday · 5:00 pm · City Council Chambers, 107 S. Cascade AvenueAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct20
    City CouncilTuesday · 6:00 pm · City Council Chambers, 107 S. Cascade AvenueCity Council MeetingAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $1,663 per resident a year, or $4.56 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 31%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 55%Fees & charges 14%Utility sales 12%From the state 8%Interest, fines & other 7%Other taxes & licenses 4%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $20.2 million; interest on debt $2.7 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $62.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$1,489 per resident in 2022: more than 67% of them

Montrose’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,489 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 18 Colorado cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,224, and the middle half spent $912–$1,750. Montrose spent more than 67% of them.

Middle half of the group, $912–$1,750Median $1,224Montrose

Includes sewer and trash ($4.4 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
18

Colorado cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Montrose itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 18% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Montrose reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$29.6 million
2024$34.9 million

Per resident: 2022: $1,489 · 2024: $1,663. Per resident it went from $1,489 to $1,663 (up 12%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 19,902 to 21,003.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,450 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.37% of the home’s value, vs 0.48% across Colorado.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Colorado$2,602
Montrose$1,450
$1,450
typical bill a year
0.37%
effective rate
$387,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Montrose’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Montrose’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Montrose →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Montrose

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See cityofmontrose.org for Montrose’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Montrose yet.cityofmontrose.org ↗
Who works for Montrose

One full-time city employee for every 124 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (21,003).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Police67
Administration & buildings24 + 16 pt
Parks & libraries21 + 3 pt
Sewer & trash16
Roads & transportation12 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities11
Courts, inspections & corrections4 + 1 pt
Other14
169
full-time
21
part-time
$1.1M
payroll for March 2022
$12.6M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$71,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
41
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Montrose had 8.5 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 14 of the 18 Colorado cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.2: Montrose had more than 64% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Montrose County School District RE-1J

Montrose’s K–12 school district, shared with Olathe. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Montrose →
$12,650
per pupil · CO $15,889
6,029
students
$18.4 million
long-term debt

Of the $12,650 per pupil, $6,927 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 33%State 53%Federal 14%

Colorado districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Montrose’s votes are counted by county

Colorado reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Montrose alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Montrose County’s results.

President · Montrose County’s results25,626 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican65.2%16,704 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat32.6%8,354 votes

Others: 2.2% (568 votes).

Most votes in Montrose County: Donald J Trump

Colorado: Harris 54.1%, Trump 43.1%

The county’s page

100% of Montrose lies in Montrose County. Every 2024 race in Montrose County is on the county’s page.

Montrose County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Montrose

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Montrose.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofmontrose.org ↗
  2. 2
    Colorado HouseState representatives
    Larry Suckla
  3. 3
    Colorado SenateState senator
    Marc Catlin
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Jared Polis
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Jeff Hurd
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Colorado
    Michael F. BennetJohn W. Hickenlooper

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Reach Montrose’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofmontrose.org ↗

Questions about Montrose’s government

How much does Montrose spend per resident?

About $1,663 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,489 was more than 67% of 18 Colorado cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Montrose?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,450 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.37% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.48% across Colorado. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofmontrose.org.

Who runs Montrose’s government?

See cityofmontrose.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Montrose yet.

How did Montrose vote in 2024?

Colorado counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Montrose alone. Montrose County, where 100% of Montrose lies, voted Trump 65.2%, Harris 32.6% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Montrose?

169 full-time and 21 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.1M (about $12.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Montrose in the state legislature?

State Senate District 5 (Marc Catlin) and State House District 58 (Larry Suckla). The House district also covers 21 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Montrose?

The next posted meeting is Planning Commission on Wednesday, November 4, at 5:00 pm in 107 S Cascade Ave, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Montrose’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →